Electric clock



Patented Oct. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE `lsnaczl'iilccnocir y Andrew H. Nem'euther, to

Pern. lll. dem

Western ration ot Illinois Muhamm- Applicaiion December l, 193|, Serial No. 499,278

15Claim.

My invention relates to clocks driven by selfstarting synchronous motors that are driven by the alternating current oicommercial power and lighting lines and has for its object the production of a simple means associated with the selfstarting synchronous motor that drives the clock handstoshoworvisuallyindicate tbattherehas been a current interruption in the power supplying line for a suiilcient period of time to cause vthe motor to stop and thus to thus caution an ob` 'ing or indicating means so that it will again be in position to indicate another current interruption.

I accomplish the above results by the means ahownintheaccomlmnylngdrawinginwhich:

Fig. '1 is a sectional view showing my invention with the driving motor and indicating means in normal operative position before a current interruption has taken place.

Fig.2isasimilarsectionalviewshowingmy invention with the driving motor stopped and the indicating means showing that the current has been interrupted.

Similar numerals indicate the same parts 4through the several views.

In the drawing 1 represents a self-starting synchronous motor the same as the type shown and described in my previous application Serial No. 463,145 iiled June 23, 1930, now'Patent No. 1,962,832 of June 12,' 1934 so that it will not be necessary to further describe it herein. 2' is the armature shaft whichhasthe endwisemotiimand isconnectedtothe'clockhands4and5bymeam ofanelongatedgearmountedonsaidshaft usual train o! gears for in connection with shown. Molmted on shaft 2 is a disc 34 which opcrates in the slot shown in member which member is pivotally connected to a frame 36 fastened )on 29 by means oi' the pin 37, as, shown. Said member 35 has a projecting part 38 which carries so amember 39 of magnetic material or amagnetized member having one or more salient poles such'as' is shown at 40. Said parts 40, 39 and 38 are counter-weighted by means of the weight 41 mmmtedonarmnwhichisfastenedtothess member38. Theparts39and40comprisea member which co-acting with the teeth 33 on rotor32 (theouter surtaceoisaidrotor32hasa submntial amount of remanence to cause it to rotateinarotatingmagneticfleldsuchasisused in self-starting induction motors at a substantiallyhighrateofrotationespecially whenthe` parts 39 and 40 are in the potion shown in Fig. 2) wheninthepositionshowninFig. lcausethe rotor to www this as a synchronizing element in the above mentioned application Serial No. 463.145. It is evident from the description that follows that when there has been a current in- 11m at synchronous speed so that I have 75 position shown in the solid lines in Figure 2 the center of gravity will be to the left of the pivot From the description the motor described in the previous specification it is evident that when the current is on the power line and it passes through the field winding of the motor -that the armature with its shaft 2 is pulled into the magnetic field in the position shownin Figure 1 l when the lever can be placed in the position shown in said Figure 1 by means to be described below.

' As soon as the current is interrupted it is evident that the armature 2 will be pushed forwardly by means of the spring 19 in the bearing of my motor so that the end will strike the upper part of the said lever 15 and throw it forwardly against the dial and aperture as shown in Figure 2 permating the com (red)- of-tne face 1s to show4 conspicuously through the aperture 8 in dial '1.

It is evident, since there is no connecting link between the shaft 2 and the lever 15, that said lever 15 will remain in said position even if the current starts to flow again and pulls thearxnamesh by means of the spring 24 between the finger piece 23 and the plate 12, said shaft 2 2 being maintained in its inoperative position by means of the collar 25 on said shaft 22. It is evident that the hands 4 and 5 (which are for convenience shown dagrammatically connected with the selfstarting synchronous motor) can be properly acl tuated by the motor and 'be set by means 'of the finger vpiece 23 inthe mannerthat is familiar in '45 the art. In my invention I utilize the sidewise axial motion of the finger piece 23 in setting the hands to correct time to simultaneously set the lever 15 from its position in the solid lines inFlsure 2 to its position shown in Figure 1by means of' a member26 slidably mounted in the plates 10 and 11. Member 26 on'its right hand end has two projections 27 Awhich loosely embrace the gear 21 and it is evident therefrom that any sidewise axial motion of said gear 21 is directly communicated to said member 26. v0n the left hand end of said member 26 adjacent to the lower projection or tail 16 of the lever 15 are two projections 28 so sufliciently spaced as to lform a lost. mo-

tion connection between said member 26 andthe 26 to return to its normal position shown in tail 16 of said lever 15, so that when the finger piece 23ispushedinsothatthegear21willbe" in engagement with the gear 20 and projections 28 will be in dottedfpo'sitionsrshown in Figure 2. the lever l5 will be moved from the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2 to the position shown in 'Figure 1, in which position the lost -motion connection above mentioned will permit the member the solid lies in both Figures 1 and 2.

It will be understood,V of course, that while I have shown one form of my invention I do not wish to limit myself to the exact form shown, but desire to have it taken as illustrative of the many forms that come fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

' sothat it will remain against the plate 10, and

further is such that when the lever 15 `is in the I claim:

1. In an electric clock, means for producing rotating magnetic fleld from a commercial alternating current lighting system, a shaft slidably and rotatively mounted in said field, a rotor mounted on said shaft substantially disposed within said fieldwhen said current flows, resilient means co-acting with said shaftto remove the rotor `from said position in said field when' said current stops flowing, in combination with time indicating means driven by said shaft, a dial havingan aperture and a member including .signalling means actuated by said shaft upon the `interruption of said current to position said signalling means in registration with said aperture. 2. In an electric clock, means for producing a rotating magnetic -fleld from a commercial alternating current lighting system, a shaft 'slidably' -and rotatively mounted in said field, a rotor 'mounted on said shaft substantially disposed within said field when said current-flows, resilient means co-acting with' said shaft to remove. the rotor from said position in said field when said current stops flowing, in combination with time indicating means driven by said shaft, a dial having an aperture, a member including signalling means actuated by said shaft upon the interruption of said current to position said signalling means in registration with lsaid aperture, and manual means for resetting said member.

3. In an electric clock, means for producinga rotating magneticfleld from a commercial alternating current lighting system, a shaft slidably 4and rotatively mounted in said field, a rotor mounted on said shaft substantially disposed within said field when said current flows', resilient means`co-acting with said shaft to remove the rotor from said position in said field when said current stops flowing, in combination with time indicating means driven by said shaft, a dial having an aperture, .a member including signalling means actuated by said shaft-upon' the interruption of said current to position said signalling means inregistration with said aperture, and

manual means for resetting said member and said' time indicating means.

4. In anelectric clock, means for producing a 4rotating magnetic field from a commercial lalterioo nating current lighting system, a shaft slidably and rotatively mountedy in said field, a rotor mounted on said shaft substantially disposed -within said fieldwhen said current flows, resilient means co-acting with" saidshaft to remove the rotor from said positionr in said field when said current stops flowing, in combination with time indicating means driven by said shaft, a dial having an apertureiand asignalling means visible through said aperture' actuated by said shaft upon the interruption of said current to position said signalling means in registration with said aperture. a 5. In an electric clock, means for producing a rotating magnetic field from a commercial alternating current lighting system, a shaft slidably and rotatively mounted insaid field, a rotor mounted on'said shaft vsubstantially disposed within said eld when said current ows, resilient means co-acting with said shaft to remove the rotor from said position in said field when said current stops owing, in combination with time indicating means driven by said shaft, a dial having an aperture, a signalling means visible through' said aperture actuated by said shaft upon the interruption of said current to position Said signalling means in registration with said aperture and manual means for resetting said signalling means.

6. In an electric clock, means for producing a rotating magnetic field from a commercial alternating current lighting system, a shaft slidably and rotatively mounted in said field, a rotor mounted on said shaft substantially disposed within said field when said current flows, resilient means co-acting with said shaft to remove the rotor from said position in said field when said current stops flowing, in combination with time indicating means driven by said shaft, a dial having an aperture, a signalling means' visible through said aperture actuated by said shaft 4upon the interruption of said current to position said signalling means in registration with said aperture and manual means for resetting said signallingmeans and the time indicating means.

-7. In an electric clock, means for producing a' rotating magnetic field from a commercial alternating current lighting system, a shaft slidably and rotatively mounted in said field, a rotor mounted on said shaft substantially positioned within said field when said currentfiows, resilient, means co-acting with said shaft t remove the when said current stops owing, in combination with time indicating means driven by said shaft, signalling means actuated by said shaft upon the interruption of said current and manual means for resetting said signalling means.

9. In an electric clock, means for producing a .rotating magnetic field from a commercial alternating current lighting system, a )shaft slidably and rotatively mounted in said field, a rotor mounted on said shaft substantially positioned within said field when said current flows, resilient means co-acting with said shaft to remove the rotor from said position in said field when said current stops flowing, in combination with time indicating means driven by said shaft, signalling means actuated by said shaft upon the interruption of said current and manual means for resetting said signalling means and the time indicating means.

10. In an electric clock, means for producing a rotating magnetic field from a/commercial alternating current lighting system, a shaft slidably and rotatively mounted in said field, a rotor mounted on said shaft substantially positioned within said 'field when said current flows, means co-acting with said shaft to remove the rotor from said position in said fleldlwhen said current stops flowing, in combination with time indicating means driven by said shaft, and signalling means actuated by the said movementv of said shaft upon the interruption of said current.

1l. In an electric clock, means for producing a 'rotating magnetic field from a commercial alterternating current lighting system, a shaft slidably and rotatively mounted in said field, a rotor mounted on said shaft substantially positioned within said field when said current flows, means co-acting with said shaft to remove the rotor from said position in said field when said current stops owing, in combination with time indicating means driven by said shaft, signalling means `actuated by said shaft upon the interruption' of said current and manual means for resetting said signalling means and the time indicating means.

13. In an electric clock, a constant speed electric motor, means for producing a magneticv fleld therein from a commercial lighting system, a shaft slidably and rotatively mounted in said field, a rotor mounted on said shaft substantially positioned within said field when said current flows, means co-acting with said shaft to remove the rotor from said position in said eld when said current stops fiowing, in combination with time indicating means driven by said shaft and signalling means actuated by the movement of said shaft upon the interruption of said current.

`14. In an electric clock, a constant speed electric. motor, means for producing a magnetic 'eld therein from a commercial lighting system, a shaft slidably and rotatively mounted in said field, a rotor mounted on said shaft substantially positioned within said field when said current flows, means co-acting with said shaft to remove the rotor from said position in said eld when said current stops flowing, in combination with time indicating means driven by said shaft, signalling means actuated by said shaft upon the interruption of said current and manual means for resetting said signalling means.

15. In an electric clock, a constant speed electric motor, means for producing a magnetic iield therein from a commercial lighting system, a shaft slidably and rotatively mounted in said field, avrotor mounted on said shaft substantially y for resetting said signalling means and theftime indicating means.

AANDREW H. 

